Bill S836-2013

Extends the statute of limitations in criminal and civil actions for certain sex offenses committed against a child less than eighteen years of age

Establishes the period of limitation for the prosecution of a sex offense defined in article 130 of the penal law, incest or use of a child in a sexual performance committed against a person less than eighteen years of age shall not begin to run until the person has reached the age of twenty-three or the offense is reported to law enforcement or the statewide central register of child abuse and maltreatment, whichever occurs earlier; allows civil claims or causes of action brought by any person for physical, psychological or other injury or condition suffered as a result of conduct that is a sex offense as defined in article 130 of the penal law, incest or use of a child in a sexual performance committed against a child who was less than eighteen years of age at the time shall be allowed to be commenced five years after the child reaches the age of twenty-three; revives for 1 year, any such civil claim or cause of action which was barred because the applicable statute of limitations expired.

Details

Actions

Jan 8, 2014: REFERRED TO CODES

Jan 9, 2013: REFERRED TO CODES

Memo

BILL NUMBER:S836

TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to the timeliness of prosecutions for certain sex offenses; to amend the civil practice law and rules, in relation to the timeliness for commencing certain civil actions related to sex offenses; and to amend the general municipal law, in relation to claims against a city, county, town, village, fire district or school district

PURPOSE: The bill amends the criminal Procedure Law and the civil Practice Law and Rules to extend the statute of limitations for criminal and civil actions for sex offenses under article one hundred thirty of the Penal Law committed against a child less than eighteen years of age, for incest against a child less then eighteen years of age or the use of a child in a sexual performance.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section one of the bill amends the Criminal Procedure Law to increase the criminal statute of limitation for the prosecution of certain sex offenses committed against a child under the age of eighteen, for incest against a child less then eighteen years of age or the use of a child in a sexual performance. The period of limitation would not begin to run until the child reaches the age of 23 years or the offense is reported to a law enforcement agency or the statewide central register of child abuse and maltreatment.

Section two of the bill would extend the civil statute of limitation for causes of action to remedy injuries or conditions suffered as a result of conduct which would constitute a sexual offense as defined in article one hundred thirty of the penal law committed against a child less than eighteen years of age, incest as defined in section 255.25, 255.26 or 255..27 of the penal law committed against a child less than eighteen years of age, or the use of, a child in a sexual performance as defined in section 263.05 of the penal law. Such an action must be commenced when one knows or should have known that the criminal act cause injury within three years of the discovery of the injury.

Section three of the bill would revive expired civil causes of action based on conduct which would constitute a sexual offense as defined in article one hundred thirty of the penal law committed against a child less than eighteen years of age, incest as defined in section 255.25, 255.26 or 255.27 of the penal law committed against a child less than eighteen years of age, or the use of a child in a sexual performance as defined in section 263.05 of the penal law.. Persons for whom the right to bring a civil action has been foreclosed because of the current civil statute of limitations bar would be given a one-year "window period" from the date of enactment of the bill, regardless of their age, in which to bring an action to recover damages for any past instance of child sexual abuse. Prior to the commencement of the action, the plaintiff must obtain a certificate of merit by a

mental health expert that states in reasonable detail the facts and opinions relied upon for concluding that the plaintiff was 3 victim of sexual abuse. The complaint shall be accompanied by a certificate of merit as described in subdivision (c) of this section. Section four of the bill states that the notice of claim provisions for a city, county, town, village, fire district or school district outlined in Section 50 of the general municipal law will not apply to a sexual offense as defined in article one hundred thirty of the penal law committed against a child less than eighteen years of age, incest as defined in section 255.25, 255.26 or 255.27 of the penal law committed against a child less than eighteen years of age, or the use of a child in a sexual performance as defined in section 263.05 of the penal law.

Section 5 of the bill is a savings clause.

Section six of the bill is the effective date. The bill would take effect immediately but section three which revives expired claims would take effect 60 days after becoming law.

JUSTIFICATION: Sex crimes, particularly those committed against children, are among the most heinous and deeply disturbing in our society. They are crimes that leave life-long scars, multiple victims and require an all encompassing strategy to combat. This proposal would extend the authority to prosecute and to bring a civil lawsuit for damages in child sexual abuse cases in three significant ways, regardless of whether or not DNA evidence is available. This bill will provide a remedy for those whose lives have been unalterably changed by the horror of childhood sexual abuse. Victims of these horrific crimes will get their day in court and be able to seek the justice they have been denied.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.

LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately, with provisions.

Text

STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
836
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
(PREFILED)
January 9, 2013
___________

Introduced by Sen. ESPAILLAT -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to the timeli-
ness of prosecutions for certain sex offenses; to amend the civil
practice law and rules, in relation to the timeliness for commencing
certain civil actions related to sex offenses; and to amend the gener-
al municipal law, in relation to claims against a city, county, town,
village, fire district or school district
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Paragraph (f) of subdivision 3 of section 30.10 of the
criminal procedure law, as separately amended by chapters 3 and 320 of
the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:
(f) For purposes of a prosecution involving a sexual offense as
defined in article one hundred thirty of the penal law, other than a
sexual offense delineated in paragraph (a) of subdivision two of this
section, committed against a child less than eighteen years of age,
incest in the first, second or third degree as defined in sections
255.27, 255.26 and 255.25 of the penal law committed against a child
less than eighteen years of age, or use of a child in a sexual perform-
ance as defined in section 263.05 of the penal law, the period of limi-
tation shall not begin to run until the child has reached the age of
[eighteen] TWENTY-THREE or the offense is reported to a law enforcement
agency or statewide central register of child abuse and maltreatment,
whichever occurs earlier.
S 2. The opening paragraph of section 208 of the civil practice law
and rules is designated subdivision (a) and a new subdivision (b) is
added to read as follows:
(B) NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION (A) OF THIS SECTION,
WITH RESPECT TO ALL CIVIL CLAIMS OR CAUSES OF ACTION BROUGHT BY ANY

EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04272-01-3

S. 836 2

PERSON FOR PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL OR OTHER INJURY OR CONDITION SUFFERED
AS A RESULT OF CONDUCT WHICH WOULD CONSTITUTE A SEXUAL OFFENSE AS
DEFINED IN ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY OF THE PENAL LAW COMMITTED AGAINST
A CHILD LESS THAN EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE, INCEST AS DEFINED IN SECTION
255.25, 255.26 OR 255.27 OF THE PENAL LAW COMMITTED AGAINST A CHILD LESS
THAN EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE, OR THE USE OF A CHILD IN A SEXUAL PERFORM-
ANCE AS DEFINED IN SECTION 263.05 OF THE PENAL LAW, OR A PREDECESSOR
STATUTE THAT PROHIBITED SUCH CONDUCT AT THE TIME OF THE ACT, WHICH
CONDUCT WAS COMMITTED AGAINST A CHILD LESS THAN EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE,
THE TIME WHICH THE ACTION MUST BE COMMENCED SHALL BE WHEN ONE KNOWS OR
REASONABLY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN OF THE ALLEGED CRIMINAL ACT AND KNOWS OR
SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THE CRIMINAL ACT CAUSED INJURY WITHIN THREE YEARS
OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE INJURY.
S 3. The civil practice law and rules is amended by adding a new
section 3012-b to read as follows:
S 3012-B. CERTAIN CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE CASES; CERTIFICATE OF MERIT. (A)
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW WHICH IMPOSES A PERIOD OF LIMITA-
TION TO THE CONTRARY, EVERY CIVIL CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BROUGHT BY A
PERSON FOR PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, OR OTHER INJURY OR CONDITION
SUFFERED AS A RESULT OF CONDUCT WHICH WOULD CONSTITUTE A SEXUAL OFFENSE
AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY OF THE PENAL LAW COMMITTED
AGAINST A CHILD LESS THAN EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE, INCEST AS DEFINED IN
SECTION 255.25, 255.26 OR 255.27 OF THE PENAL LAW COMMITTED AGAINST A
CHILD LESS THAN EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE, OR THE USE OF A CHILD IN A SEXUAL
PERFORMANCE AS DEFINED IN SECTION 263.05 OF THE PENAL LAW, OR A PREDE-
CESSOR STATUTE THAT PROHIBITED SUCH CONDUCT AT THE TIME OF THE ACT,
WHICH CONDUCT WAS COMMITTED AGAINST A CHILD LESS THAN EIGHTEEN YEARS OF
AGE, WHICH IS BARRED AS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION BECAUSE
THE APPLICABLE PERIOD OF LIMITATION HAS EXPIRED IS HEREBY REVIVED, AND
ACTION THEREON MAY BE COMMENCED PROVIDED THAT SUCH ACTION IS COMMENCED
WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.
(B) IN ANY ACTION BROUGHT PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION (A) OF THIS SECTION
FOR PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, OR OTHER INJURY OR CONDITION SUFFERED AS A
RESULT OF CONDUCT WHICH WOULD CONSTITUTE A SEXUAL OFFENSE AS DESCRIBED
IN SUBDIVISION (A) OF THIS SECTION, THE COMPLAINT SHALL BE ACCOMPANIED
BY A CERTIFICATE OF MERIT AS DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION (C) OF THIS
SECTION.
(C) A CERTIFICATE OF MERIT FILED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION (B) OF THIS
SECTION SHALL BE FILED BY THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF AND SHALL
CONTAIN A NOTARIZED STATEMENT BY A QUALIFIED PSYCHIATRIST, AS DEFINED IN
SECTION 9.01 OF THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW, A PSYCHOLOGIST AS LICENSED
PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE OF THE EDUCATION LAW, OR A
PERSON IN THE PRACTICE OF MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, AS DEFINED IN SUBDI-
VISION ONE OF SECTION EIGHTY-FOUR HUNDRED TWO OF THE EDUCATION LAW, WHO
IS KNOWLEDGEABLE IN THE RELEVANT FACTS AND ISSUES INVOLVED IN THE
PARTICULAR ACTION, AND STATES IN REASONABLE DETAIL THE FACTS AND OPIN-
IONS THAT THE PERSON HAS RELIED UPON FOR CONCLUDING THAT THERE IS A
REASONABLE BASIS TO BELIEVE THAT THE PLAINTIFF HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO ONE
OR MORE ACTS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION
(A) OF THIS SECTION. THE PERSON PROVIDING SUCH STATEMENT MAY NOT BE A
PARTY TO THE LITIGATION.
(D) WHERE A CERTIFICATE IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, A SINGLE
CERTIFICATE SHALL BE FILED FOR EACH ACTION, EVEN IF MORE THAN ONE
DEFENDANT HAS BEEN NAMED IN THE COMPLAINT OR IS SUBSEQUENTLY NAMED.
S 4. Section 50-i of the general municipal law is amended by adding a
new subdivision 5 to read as follows:

S. 836 3

5. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THIS SECTION
SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY CLAIM MADE AGAINST A CITY, COUNTY, TOWN, VILLAGE,
FIRE DISTRICT OR SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, OR OTHER
INJURY OR CONDITION SUFFERED AS A RESULT OF CONDUCT OF A DEFENDANT WHICH
WOULD CONSTITUTE A SEXUAL OFFENSE AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED
THIRTY OF THE PENAL LAW COMMITTED AGAINST A CHILD LESS THAN EIGHTEEN
YEARS OF AGE, INCEST AS DEFINED IN SECTION 255.25, 255.26, OR 255.27 OF
THE PENAL LAW COMMITTED AGAINST A CHILD LESS THAN EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE,
OR THE USE OF A CHILD IN A SEXUAL PERFORMANCE AS DEFINED IN SECTION
263.05 OF THE PENAL LAW COMMITTED AGAINST A CHILD LESS THAN EIGHTEEN
YEARS OF AGE.
S 5. The provisions of this act shall be severable, and if any clause,
sentence, paragraph, subdivision or part of this act shall be adjudged
by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment
shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall
be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdi-
vision or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which
such judgment shall have been rendered.
S 6. This act shall take effect immediately, provided that section
three of this act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after this act
shall have become a law.

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